Fifteen young people involved with Football Unites, Racism Divides and the Kickz project have successfully completed and passed their FA Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Football.
The course was run by Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA, delivered at the Sheffield United Academy, and participants' fees were met through the Youth Opportunities Fund. The new coaches demonstrated their commitment by attending for five days during February half-term week.
Among the newly qualified coaches are Ilaz Jashari, Nick Wheelhouse and Ahmed Muse, who are all currently working for FURD on Future Jobs Fund placements. The other successful candidates are Liban Mohamed, Akash Munir, Laura Naylor, Mohamed Mohamoud, Mohamed Ali, Mohamed Kabadeh, Marcin Ostrowicki, James Ronksley, Jude Beng, Dulmar Hussein, Mahdi Ahmed Mohamed and Lereece Wilson.
Ilaz Jashari said, "It was fun doing the course and meeting new people, and it wasn't too hard. Now I want to do the Level 2 as soon as possible, and hope to carry on working as a coach after my placement with FURD has finished. It's good coaching at the Sheffield United Academy with FURD - Luis and the other coaches have been teaching me lots of new techniques. I'd like to coach abroad, maybe in Dubai, in the future".
The FURD library has ordered some new DVDs and books to help coaches develop their knowledge and skills. These will shortly be available for everyone to come and borrow.
Mohamed Kabadeh (also known as Smokey) has also just been awarded the title of Sheffield United Kickz Volunteer of the Year.